News: Shelby Terlingua Mustang

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Shelby will produce only 50 Terlingua S550s with over 750 horsepower

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Shelby American

The first Terlingua Shelby Mustang debuted in 1965 and the Terlingua Racing Team gained notoriety when Jerry Titus piloted his 1967 Shelby to a championship in the Trans Am series. Now, for the first time since 2007, a Terlingua Shelby is once again set for production.

While the bodywork is similar to that of a Shelby GT, the new Terlingua Mustang carries the familiar yellow-and-black paint scheme plus the signature badges and logos. The raised paw on the Terlingua badge is said to represent the creature asking for “no more peppers” in its Chili.

While the version born in the S197 era was based on the V-6 Mustang, the new version based on the 2015-2016 Mustang is powered by a Whipple-supercharged 5.0-liter powerplant.

“The Shelby Terlingua is our most track-inspired Mustang and is built as a tribute to the Terlingua Racing Team and their 1967 Trans Am Championship,” says Shelby.

Given the Mustangs available from the company, that is a bold statement, but this car features a long list of upgrades that give it those race-ready credentials.

A Whipple 2.9-liter supercharger and a Borla exhaust help the Coyote engine in the Shelby Terlingua produce more than 750 horsepower!

“We start with a Whipple supercharger mated to the new 5.0-liter V8 Mustang GT producing over 750 horsepower and give it an exclusive Shelby by Eibach sway bar and adjustable coilovers. Then we bring in Ford Performance upgrades including halfshafts, a short- throw shifter and the aggressive sounding Borla Exhaust with black tips,” says the company. “We also added the Brembo big-brake kit for racetrack-proven performance. And with 20-inch Weld Racing wheels, tons of Shelby-designed carbon fiber components and the distinct Terlingua Racing Team badging, this car looks and runs like a Terlingua race car should.”

Shelby American will only produce 50 examples of the latest Terlingua and the conversions start at $65,999, which doesn’t include the price of the base vehicle.

Out back the car wears a Terlingua Rear spoiler along with a Shelby taillight panel and rear fascia diffuser. Underneath, the rear axle is fortified with Ford Performance halfshafts.Each new Terlingua Mustang will carry a plate adorned with the autographs of Bill Neale (who designed the team crest), Carroll Shelby and Jerry Titus.The 20-inch Weld Racing/Shelby wheels leave plenty of room for the Shelby Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with yellow-painted calipers.